Museum case



Oct. 26, 1937. T. suTERs MUSEUM CASE Filed May 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet v1 SUTERS MUSEUM CASE Filed May 2, 1934' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 26, 1937 PATENT OFF-"ESE.

MUSEUM CASE Thomas Suters, Ilion, N. Y., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buifalo, N. Y.

Application May 2, 1934, Serial No. 723,572

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in museum cases.

Museum cases should be dust-proof in order to properly preserve the scientific specimens that they are used to house, and for this purpose it has been customary in the prior art to design and construct museum cases having the sides and top provided with glass panels that are transparent so that specimens contained in the cases may be examined. The frames supporting these glass panels have been constructed so that the panels are secured therein with dust excluding packing while the frames themselves are constructed for assembly in sections with means pro- 7 vided toexclude the passage of dust through the joints between the frame members.

The present invention comprehends imp-rovements in museum cases designed to increase the efficiency of the cases in excluding the passage of dust between the frame members, as well as to simplify the construction of the frame members, reduce the cost of production thereof by reducing the amount of labor necessary in the construction of the case, and reduce the cost of construction of the parts by improving the structure of the frame members, as well as provide for a 'more efficient arrangement and assembly of the frame members in cooperating relation in a finished case.

' The invention comprehends the provision of an improved dust-excluding joint connection belike construction of the projection an efficient compression of the packing member in the enlargement of the other frame member is obtained with a cooperation between the meeting faces of the two members in mutual complementary relation so that an efficient seal to prevent the passage of dust between the members is obtained. These members also cooperate in such a way that the rib on one member engaging in the groove of the other member firmly locks the two seotions of the frame together throughout their length and provides for stress distribution '(Cll 312-140) between the members, so that a substantially rigid frame structure is obtained'at the corners of the museum case inthe assembled relation of the parts.

The invention further comprehends the pro-'- vision of novel securing means for connecting the ends of the frame members along adjacent sides of each panel of the case, improvements in the manner and means for securing the frame members for the sides of-the case and, the top member together in assembled relation, novel means of mounting and sealing the door for the case in dust-proof relation with the sides and top, and other features that will be hereafter more fully pointed out and referred to in both the following description and the claims.

In the drawings: I Fig. 1 shows a museum case constructed according to tlr's invention in perspective, with parts broken away andshown in section in order to illustrate details of construction of the various joints between the frame members, the

panels and the door structure of the case.

Fig. 2 shows one corner portion of the museum case in perspective, being the upper corner of the case shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 1 as observed from a position above and to the left of the case.

Fig. 3 shows portions of the top panel frame and two side panel frames in perspective with, each of the frame members in disassembled relation to each other; the portions of the top frame members being shown in inverted position, and the parts of the side. frame members beingshown in positions substantially at right angles to each other, the frames being rotated substantially ninetydegrees in opposite directions from their normal assembled positions but each of the frame members illustrated being shown in such a position that it can be: easily understood from the illustration how the members interfit in assem-' bled relation.

.Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on'line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of- Fig. 3, the parts being shown in assembled relation.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 shows the locking screw and operating key for securing side and top frame members in assembled relation, in perspective and disassembled relation.

The mmeum case has a top panel generally indicated at I, side panels 2 and 3 respectively;- 55

groove 19, and may be referred to as a web section.

there being one side panel 3 extending between two side panels 2, and a door panel 4 opposite to side panel 3. A suitable supporting base 5 is provided to support the case which may be the top of a suitable table having legs 6 or other suitable supporting structure.

Each panel includes a glass pane or panel member 'l enclosed by edge framing members that have complementary interfitting and engaging faces provided for intere'ngagernent when the panels are secured in museum case-forming relation.

The edge framing members for the panels comprise essentially two dilferent types of members formed for interfitting relation, one member being called a male member for convenience and indicated by the numeral 8 and the other member a female member indicated. by the numeral 9.

One edge of each of these members is formed with a groove l9 forming outer and inner flanges l l and I2 respectively that receive and embrace the marginal portion of glass pane I and have suitable packing strips l3 engaged on opposite sides of the pane under flanges II and I2 with a spring member M for retaining the packing strips in compressed relation to prevent the passage of dust between the glass pane and the frame member. This construction is found on each of the panels I to 4 inclusive, and is a conventional method of arranging the frame member on the margin of glass panes, it being understood that any other means of mounting the frame members on the panes may be used if desired. A transversely extending portion of each strip extends between flanges II and I2, forms the bottom of The opposite or engaged edges of frame memmanner and'form one of the several features of the invention. Male member 8 is provided on the inner side with a wedge-shaped groove I 5 extending throughout the length of each male member and laterally to the plane of the member and its pane l. The open end of groove I5 is wider than the bottom 16 of the groove and the inclined face i! of the groove forms one side of a wedge-shaped lateral projection '01 rib l8 extending toward the plane of .the inner face of the frame member. The outer face or edge IQ of this wedge-shaped projection l8 formsthe outer edge of male member 8 opposite that formed with groove l0 and adjacent to the outer face of male 'member 8 this inclined face l9 merges into a lip 29 extending along and outwardly from the outer free edge of i the male member providing an inclined face on the edge of the lip arranged in obtuse angular relation to face l9 as clearly illustrated in the drawings. This lip 29 has the free edge thereof so arranged that it will terminate at the corner of the museum case when assembled as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Female member 9 has the face opposite that formed with groove l 0 provided to receive in complementary relation, the wedge-shaped projection l8 of male member 8, and for this purpose is provided with a wedge-shaped recess or groove 2| extending throughout the length of the frame member and opening outwardly in a direction opposite to groove ii the open end of the groove being wider than the inner end. The inner end of the groove has the narrow portion indicated at 22 opening inwardly into a channel or enlargement 23 housing a packing strip 24. This packing strip 25 may be in the form of a woven casing provided with a stuffing or filler of soft material of any suitable character designed to exclude passage of dust therethrough when compressed in enlargement or channel 23.

A flange 25 is formed at the outer side of frame member 9 and defines one side of groove 2| through having an inclined inner face merging at the outer edge into bevelled portion 26 to engage lip 29 of male member 8. Wedge-shaped projection i8 and groove 2| are complementary to each other so that the wedge-shaped projection will seat in groove or chann'el'Zl in the assembled relation of the frame members in the manner illustrated in the drawings with the inner edge of projection l8 extending into enlargement 23 to compress packing strip 24 therein. The inner edge of female member 9 is formed with a projecting rib 21 having tapering side walls 28 and 29 respectively, side wall 28 forming the inside of groove 2! and engaging the inner inclined wall ll of wedge-shaped projection I8, while the inclined wall 29 engages the opposite inclined wall of groove 15 in frame member 8. At the juncture of the inclined wall 29 of projection 21 and the inner face of frame member 9 is formed a laterally and inwardly extending flange 30 to engage the inner face of male member 8 in assembled relation.

Male and female members 8 and 9 are always used on opposed engaging edges of each panel as clearly illustrated in the drawings and are assembled in right angular relation so that Wedgeshaped projection l8 engages in complementary relation in groove 2| and compresses packing 24 as above explained, while projection 21 engages in groove [5 of-frame member 8 in complementary relation. When the frame members are assembled, bevelled edge 26 will engage the end face of frame member 8 along the face of lip 20 and through the cooperation of flange 25 and lip 20, they will terminate at the corner of the case assembly in a manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. When these members are rigidly secured together by suitable means, they will exclude the passage of dust through the joint between the members by means of wedge-shaped projection I8 compressing packing strip 24 in enlargement 23. Flange 30 is formed at intervals with openings 3! for receiving machine screws 32 adapted for screw threaded engagement in threaded sockets 33 in frame member 8 for attaching frame 'members 8 and 9 together in assembled relation,

wherever this form of attachment is found to be desirable.

Male and female frame members 8 and 9 are used on the edges of the toppanel and around the top and the vertical side edges of the side panels and door panel while a different type of frame member is used between the bottom edges of the side and door panels and supporting base 5. These base engaging frame members are indicated at 3 and comprise inner and outer strips 35 and 36 arranged in spaced parallel relation and secured together by a connecting web 31-intermediate the edges of the strip to form a substantially H-shaped structure in cross section.

The upwardly directed channel formed by strips 35 and 36 and connecting web 31 of each frame member 34 will receive the lower edge of one ofthe glass panels 1 with suitable packing and retaining strips therein as explained above in connection with members 8 and 9, while the opposite channel will be directed downwardly so as to open toward supporting base 5 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. l. This downwardly directed channel will receive any suitable packand side edge of glass 'pane I, and that panel 3 has male members 8 on the top and side edges of glass pane 1. Top panel I has male members 8 on the two opposite sides of glass pane 1 arranged for interengagement with the female members 9 on side panels '2, and on the side engaged with panel 3 top panel I is provided with a female member 9 and as clearly shown in Fig. 1

has a female member 9 on the side receiving door panel 4.

For the purpose of completing the framing structure for glass panel I of top panel I, it will therefore be seen that it is necessary to secure the ends of two male members 8 to the ends of two female members 9. The method of connecting the end of a male member 8 to a female member 9 to form a corner of the framing member for top panel i is clearly shown in Fig. 3 illustrating at the upper portion of the figure the ends of two of the framing members at one corner. A male member 8 and female member 9 are shown in inverted and disassembled relation but in relative position for connection with each other to illustrate how the ends are assembled.

From Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that the ends of each male member 8 are arranged to engage the inner side edges of female members 9. at

the end portions thereof. The ends of each male jection 42 aligned with the end of projection l8 7 on male member 8, and also with a-wedge-shaped slot 43 aligned with groove [5 so that each end portion of each female member 9 will be provided with transversely extending slots or grooves 43 and projections 42 to form continuations of grooves l5 and projections I8 providing for the interengagement of one of the panels of the case with another. V

The end of female member 9 is also provided with a transverse cylindrical bore 44 opening through the end of member 9 into slot or groove 43, and at the inner end of bore 44 there is provided a hole 45 of reduced size communicating with socket 41 to receive a machine screw 46 adapted to extend through hole 45 and threadedly engage in a threaded socket 41 in the end of tongue 49 on male member 8 so that said tongue 49 is secured in socket 4|. assembles a male and female .member inright angular relation at the ends with. inner and outer faces in co-planar relation so as to enclose the margin of a glass pane 1. This construction is formed at each of the four corners of top panel I so that when malerand female members 8 and 9 are assembled in this manner around the margin of pane 1 at the top of the case, the top panel I is completed for assembly with side panels 2 and 3. 7

In the case of each side panel-2 it is necessary vertical side edges of panel 3." v

explained, bore -6 I This rigidly to secure the ends of two female members 9 together to complete the frame for glass pane 1.

at the top corners. similar to "the top frame structure and is clearly illustrated at the left-hand'side of Fig. 3, where This is done in a manner female member 9 along the'top of the glass pane is cut away orrecessed at each end as indicated 7 at 48, to provide 'a tongue 49 projecting beyond the-end of the member and Iengagingin socket :59 opening through the inner edge in the end of vertically extending female member 9.

The upper end of each vertically extending fe-- male member 9 on each panel 2 is formed-with a transversely extending wedge-shaped groove 5i and-bevelled edge 52 on the outer edge thereof, with -.a'-t=ransversely extending projection 53 on the inner edge forming one part .of groove 5|, so asto.provideacontinuation of the correspond? ing wedge-shaped groove 2|, bevelled edge 25 and projection 21 of female member 9 along the upper edge of panel 2. The inner end of transversely'extending groove 5| is providedwith an along the upper edge ofeach panel 2' so that tom of the other member 9 on the opposite side of panel 2. The-ends of members 9 along the upper edge of each panel 2 are secured to the members 9 on the side edges of each panel at enlargement 54 forming a continuation of en-T .largement23 in female member 9 extending the upper corners by means of angle brackets 55 mounted in recessed portions 56 in each member 9 opening into groove ID as shown in'Fig. i and secured to each of the members 9 by means of suitable machine screws 51.

,Side panel .9 formed of two male'members on each vertical side portion and a male member 1 '8 on the upper edge necessitates the connection of male members at the upper corners of the panel, and for this purpose, themale members as shown in Fig. 3 are arranged so that the ends of the male member 8 along the upper edge of panel 3 are engaged with the inner edges of the end portions of the two male members on the The :ends of male member 8 along the upper.

edge of'panel'3 are cutaway as indicated at 58, to

form tongue 59 extending into socket 60 in the end-portions of the vertically extending male members :8. The end portion .of thevertically extending male member 8 is formedwith a bore. 8| similar to bore 44 in female member 9 as above extending transversely of member 8.. 'Ahole 62 communicatingwith bore 9| and. socketiifl ;isformed to receive machine screw 63 'thr eadedly engaging in threaded hole 64 in the end'of top framingmember 8 on panel '3, to secure tongue or projection 59 in socket ,69,

.and rigidly assemblethemale member 8 along 3 with male member 8on the top side of panel the side edge. r r

The end of each of the vertically extending male members-8 on the side edges of panel '3-are wardly of V the endsjeachvertically.extending member 18 along the sides of panel 3 is provided with a groove 51- forming a continuation nf ll formed with; transversely extending wedgeof lip 20 along the upper edgeof panel 3.. In 4 groove I5 of male member 8 on the upper edge of panel 3. so that groove I5 and wedge-shaped projections I8 are continuous between the ends of the framing members inassembledrelation entirely around the side and top edges of panel 3 in order to properly engage in complementary relation with the corresponding portions of the other side panels and the top panel.

Obviously, the frame members for the marginal portion of side panels 3 as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 3 may be secured together at the ends by angle brackets in the manner shown in Fig. 4 and above described, if desired, and this may also apply in connection with the assembly of frame members 8 and 9 forming the top panel at the corners thereof.

While machine screws 32 extending through flanges 30 may be used to secure the side and top frame members together and two side frame members together, some types of museum case constructions may require other means for securing the panels in assembled relation. In addition to museum cases having the panels arranged in right angular relation to form square, cubic or rectangular cases of the character generally illustrated by Fig. 1, numerous museum case constructions are of polygonal construction having side panels arranged relative to each other at angles greater or less than 90 degrees. Other types of securing means will therefore be used with diiferent types of cases as occasion requires, some of these cases requiring the use of angle members 55 for example, for securing the ends of any two frame members together, while in other cases, the use of screw members engaged in transverse sockets as in the case of the screws 46 and 63 and their correponding sockets 4! and 64 with other associated structure for securing two frame members in right angular or other type of angular relation, will be employed.

The lower ends of male and female members 8 and 9 on side panels 2 and 3 respectively, have the end portions secured to the base engaging frame members 34 in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The opposite ends of each frame 34 are provided in any suitable manner with tongues 68 having threaded openings in the ends as indicated at 69, these tongues extending into grooves II] in the ends of members Band 9 so that the ends of members 34 engage the inner side edges of members 8 and 9 with the ends of strips 35 and 36 engaging flanges I2 and II respectively. Transverse bores II! are formed in the lower ends of members 8 and 9 at the side edges of panels 2 and 3 communicating with holes II for receiving machine screws I2 that threadedly engage in openings or sockets 69 and rigidly secure frame members 34 at the bottom of panels 2 and 3 to the vertically extending frame members 8 and 9. Angle brackets such as those indicated at 55 may be used for this purpose if desired, although for some types of applications the tongue connection 68 and the use of screw I2 is preferred.

The side panels 2 and 3 and top panel I' may be suitably secured togetherby locking screws 13 providing non-losable screws. In order to provide non-losable screws, these locking screws I3 are formed with a shank portion I4 having an enlarged screw threaded inner end I5 and an outer enlarged cylindrical head I6 formed with diametrically opposite slots II. At suitable intervals along the frame members 8 or 9 around the margins of the panels, these locking screws I3 may be provided and for this purpose the frame members 8 or 9, as the case may be, is

formed with a transversely extending cylindrical bore I8 as shown in Fig. 5 to receive head I6 in rotatable relation therein.

The bore I8 will preferably be arranged so as to communicate with a groove I5 for example, in one of the frame members 8, and the head I6 will have a length equal to the thickness of the frame'member at this point, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. A pair of retaining plates I9 are secured in groove I5 to the member 8 and have semi-circular recesses I9 in adjacent ends to embrace the central portion or shank I4 of screw 1350 as to engage the inner end of headI6 and enlarged screw threaded portion I5 to: prevent detachment of the screw from the frame memher.

The complementary frame member 9 will be provided in aligned relation with bore I8 with a screw threaded socket to receive the threaded head I5. The free end of head I6 onlock screw I3 will lie flush in looking position with the outer face of the frame member as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5 and a key 81 will be'provided for operating this locking screw; This key comprises a shank portion 82 having'a pair of fingers 83 on one end constructed to engage in slots 11 and a cross bar 84 on the opposite end. to be manually engaged for rotating key 8| to rotate lock screw I3 to engage or disengage in the threaded socket 80 of one of the frame members. By this means two of the frame members may be rigidly secured in complementary relation to hold two of the side panels or a side panel and the top panel in assembled case forming relation. By having the screw constructed with the head I6 and slots I1 and arranged to have the end lie flush with the outer face of the frame member of the museum case, unauthorized persons are prevented from operating the locking screw and opening the case.

Door panel 4 is provided for gaining access to the contents of the case so that specimens may be inserted and removed. This door panel has a bottom framing member 34 on the glass panel 1 thereof along the lower edge, a male member 8 along the outer side and along the top edge thereof constructed and assembled in the manner hereinabove described in connection with panels I, 2, and 3, as will be clearly apparent fromFig'. l.- The door panel 4 is provided with a hinge connection at 85, Fig. 1, for hingedly mounting the door panel on the case at one of the vertical edges.

Side panel 2 at the hinge 85 has the frame member 86 thereof constructed to form a male frame member as in the case of the member 8 with the exception that the free edge opposite that secured to glass panel I is bevelled as indicated at 8'! to receive the hinge members 88 in spaced relation thereon. Inwardly of hinge members 88 the bevelled face 81 is formed with a wedge-shaped projection 89 extending vertically along the bevelled. faceB'I. Door panel 4 is provided with a frame member 90 along the hinge edge provided with a bevelled face 9I to which are securedihinge members 92 arranged in alternate relation with hinge members 88 to receive a single hinge pin extending continuously along the corner of the case through all of the hingle pintles from the top to the bottom to form the assembled hinge 85. Inwardly of hinge members 92 the bevelled edge 9I of frame member 90 is formed with a recess or channel 93 receiving packing material 94 therein for compression in the channel by rib or projection 89 to seal supporting base.

Non-losable lock screw 13 may be used to rigidlyisecure the door panel in closed position on the -case as shown in Fig; 1 and as a result of securing the door panel in closed position with the other panels assembled in the manner described,

it will be understood that the museum case so constructed will have all of the joints between the frame members, the glass panes and the complementary joints between the frame members of each panel section so constructed that dust is effectively excluded from passing through the joints into the museum case. This provides better protection for specimens contained in the case so that microscopic insects and other foreign matter is excluded from the case.

Frame members 8 and 9 in being secured together have the projections thereon, by reason of their wedge-shaped and cooperating character, formed to so engage in the grooves of each of the members, that the resultant corner structure for the case is substantially rigid, as well as dust-excluding, due to the compression of the packing strip 24 in enlargement 23. These members are further easily assembled together in assembling the variousv frame members on the respective panels as well as assembling the panels in case-forming relation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dust-proofing joint for museum cases, a pair of members, one member having a projection, the other member having a groove complementary to said projection terminating in an enlarged inner groove portion, and a packing strip in said enlarged inner groove portion engaged and compressed therein by said projection to exclude passage of dust between said members.

2. In a dust-proofing joint for museum cases, a pair of members, one member having a wedgeshaped projection, the other member having a wedge-shaped recess for receiving said projection and having a second recess larger than the inner end of said wedge-shaped recess and communicating therewith, and a packing roll in said second recess compressed therein by said projection to exclude passage of dust between said members.

3. In a dust-proofing joint for museum cases, a pair of members, one of said members having a projection and formed at the base of said projection on one side with a bore, a strip of packing insaid bore, and the other member having a groove to receive said projection and a projection on said other member engaging in said bore and compressing said packing therein to exclude passage of dust between said members.

4. In a dust-proofing joint for museum cases, a pair of members, each of said members having a channel formed in one edge, one of said members having the opposite edge from the channel formed to provide a longitudinal groove and adjacent projection, the other member having an adjacent side to said channel formed with a groove and an adjacent lateral projection, said members having complementary interengagement with corresponding side portions in angular relation and with the groove of each member receiving the projection of the other member, one of said members havingthe groove formed with an enlargement, and a packing material in said enlargement engaged and compressed by the projection in said groove to exclude passage of dust between said members.

5. In a dust-proofing joint for museumcases, a pair of members having an edge of each formed with a longitudinal channel, one member having the edge opposite said channel formed with a groove between a pair of projections, said member having a laterally extending flange on one side thereof'at the base of one -of said projections, the other member having the edge opposite the channel and one side portion formed to provide a laterally extending projection to engage in the groove of the first'member and an adjacent groove opening through the side to receive one of the projections of the first member in complementary relation, said members being arranged in angular relation when assembled with a side of the second member engaging said laterally extending flange on the first member, the other projection on the first member overlying the outer side of the projection on the second member, and a packing material compressed in the groove of the first member by the projection on said second member.

6. In a museum case, a corner construction for connecting frame members on adjacent sides of a panelcomprising frame members having one edge portion provided with a groove and a projection extendinglengthwiseof said members, one end of one member engaging the inner edge of the end portion of the other member, a' tongue projecting from the end of said one member, a socket formed in said other member receiving said tongue, means attached to both members for retaining them in engaged relation with the tongue in said socket, and said other member having the end portion formed with a trans versely extending groove and projections forming co-ntinuations of the groove and projection in said one member.

7. In a museum case, a corner structure comprising a pair of frame members arranged in angular relation, one frame member having an end engaged with the side edge of the other frame member at the end thereof, means securing said ends of said frame members together, each frame member being formed to provide a longitudinally extending rib and groove, said other frame member having a transversely extending rib and groove on the end portion to which said one member is secured forming continuations of the rib and groove in said one member in aligned relation.

8. A knock-down, dust-proof cabinet comprising a rear panel, side panels, and a top panel, said panels having interfitting marginal frame members providing vertical corner joints at the rear of the cabinet and horizontal joints at the rear and sides of the top of the cabinet, each of said frame members being similarly shaped and having interfitting parts providing complemental interengaging channel and tenon portions, the tenon of one frame member being of less depth than the channel into which it extends thereby providing a concealed packing-retaining chamber which extends throughout the entire length of each of the joints, and compressed packing material disposed in the chambers of the joints to render them dust-proof.

20 Ejfi 9. In a dust-proofing joint for museum cases; a pair of members each having a channel formed in one edge, one of said members having the opposite edge formed to provide an oppositely facging longitudinal groove and a pair of oppositely extending projections at opposite sides of said groove, the other member having an adjacent side to said channel formed with a recessed portion to provide a groove and an adjacent laterally extending projection, said members having interfitting engagement with corresponding side portions'in angular relation, said lateral projection engaging in the groove of the first-mentioned member, one of the projections of the first-mentioned member engaging in the groove of the other member, and the other projection of the first-mentioned member being located at the outer side of said member and cooperating with said other member to provide the joint between the outer sides of said members at the edge of the corner formed by said members.

10. A knock-down cabinet comprising a back panel, side panels and a top panel, each of said panels including marginal frame members and a pane secured therein, and the several panels interfitting to provide vertical corner joints at the rear of the cabinet and horizontal joints at the rear and sides of the top thereof, respectively, the respective frame members forming said joints being similarly shaped and having interfitting parts providing complemental interengaging channel and tenon portions, the tenon of one member being of less depth than the channel into which it extends thereby, providing a concealed packing retaining chamber which extends throughout the entire length of the joint, packof said frame members, a front panel hinged to V the forward vertical frame member of one of the.

side panels and constituting a door adapted to close against the forward vertical frame member of the other side panel, said forward vertical frame member and the forward frame memberof the top panel having an outwardly directed projection and groove forming a jamb for the door,

packing material disposed in the grooves, and a projection on the margin of the front panel for engaging in the grooves in said jamb for compressing said packing therein.

11. A knock-down, dust-proof cabinet com prising a rear panel, side panels and a top panel,

said panels having interfitting marginal frame members providing vertical corner joints at the rear of the cabinet and horizontal joints at the rear and sides of the top of the cabinet, each- 'of said frame members being similarly shaped and having interfitting parts providing complemental interengaging channel and tenon portions interlocking one frame member to the other in assembled relation, and means engaging each 7 of said frame members for retaining them in assembled relation whereby the interlocking of one frame member with the other provides a substantially rigid cabinet structure;

THOMAS SUTERS. 

